Cable connected auxiliary vehicle suspension



B. WALKER CABLE CONNECTED AUXILIARY VEHICLE SUSPENSION June 26, 1962Original Filed May 11. 1954 m 2 mfi W. m 2 w w v/ 0 a M I IN%%.

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3,041,086 CABLE CONNECTED AUXILIARY VEHICLE SUSPENSION Brooks Walker,Montgomery St., San Francisco, Calif. Original application May 11, 1954,Ser. No. 429,019, new

Patent No. 2,872,209, dated Feb. 3, H59. Divided and this applicationMar. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 721,317

16 Claims. (Cl. 2811-124) This invention is a division of myapplication, Serial No. 429,019, filed May 11, 1954, for Cable ConnectedAuxiliary Vehicle Suspension, now Patent No. 2,872,209, issued February3, 1959.

This invention pertains to improvements in vehicle suspension systems,particularly pertaining to means of varying the rate or degree ofsuspension support at given axle-to-frame clearance.

One object is to provide a vehicle suspension with variable lengthshackles connecting the suspension to the suspension springs orauxiliary suspension springs or yieldable means.

Another object is to provide a single leaf spring across the rear of thevehicle with variable length shackles to the axle to provide variablesupport by power change means.

Another object is to have a single power source operate the variablesupports at each rear Wheel and provide sway stabilizing at the sametime.

Another object is to provide arms pivoted to the spring chassisyieldably urged to supporting position and variable length shackles toprovide variable support.

Another object is to provide shock absorbers associated with the primarysupport and with the supplementary support so that the shock absorberresistance is increased as more action is applied through the auxiliarysupport than when the support from the auxiliary support is reducedsubstantially.

Other objects of the invention will be more particular- 7 FIG. 1 showsone form of the invention in rear elevation with part of the vehicle cutaway.

FIG. 2 shows another form of the invention in a similar View.

FIG. 3 shows another form of theinvention inasimilar.

view;

In all figures like numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts.

In FIG. 1 I have shown a rear elevation looking forward from just backof the rear axle, in which the.

vehicle frame 10 is supported by leaf springs 7 in the conventionalmanner, and axle 8 has extensions 8a and 8b which carry the ends ofcables 115 and 1 16, respectively. These cables 115 and 116 pass overpulleys 117 and 118 which are attached to the opposite ends of leafspring 20. Leaf spring 120 is secured at its center by two U- bolts 121which secure the spring to extension 10 which may be, in turn, securedto cross member 10a. Hydraulic cylinder 110 is pivotally attached to thevehicle frame 10 by bolt ll l and has piston rod 112. The outer end ofthe piston rod 112 is secured to cables 115 and 116 at adapter 112a. Bythis construction it can be seen that when the pressure in line 41 goingto the piston rod end of cylinder 110 is released, piston rod 112 willbe extended by the action of the axle 8 in being moved up going overbumps, and cables 116 and 115 will be slack so that overload spring 120will be inoperative during most of the normal action of axle 8. As it isdesired to have overload spring 120 carry more and more load, pressureis fed to cylinder 110 through line 41 from a 3,041,086 Patented June26, 1962 manually operated pump, a power steering pump, or other sourceof pressure as described in my previously identified application. Evenan air line in a gas station could be used as a source of pressure.Cables 115 and 116 will be tightened so as to put more and more load onthe ends of spring 120 where pulleys 117 and 118 are attached.Practically no unsprung weight is added to the vehicle axle or wheelsupporting structure by this construction when the overload is inactiveand a considerable degree of overload variation is available through thepositioning of piston rod 112. I

In FIG. 2 I have shown an alternate construction which is somewhatsimilar in operation to that shown in FIG. 1 as the views in each caseare taken similarly with respect to the vehicle. In the case illustratedin FIG. 2, however, frame extension 109 extends from cross member 10a todown near the diiferential housing of axle 8 where it supports a pivot127. Bearinged to this pivot are two connecting arms 125 and 126somewhat similar in operation to the lower link of a conventionalkneeaction front suspension. Pulleys 117 and 118 are attachedrespectively to the ends of links or arms 125 and 126. Saddles 125a and126a receive the lower end of compression auxiliary springs 130 and 131at each side of the vehicle. A suitable saddle at the top end of thesprings 130 and 131 may be carried by the cross member 10a. Where it isdesired to have additional shock absorber resistance in connection withthe additional spring support of the overloads, telescoping-type shockabsorbers 1132 may be nested within the springs in a manner similar tothat used in connection with front knee-action suspension. Cables 115and116 are operated by cylinder 110 in a manner similar to thatdescribed in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 3 I have shown a different construction and the View is takenlooking at the rear axle from the fori v ward end of the car. Theoverload springs 135 and 136 are carried on cross member 10b which islocated ahead of the rear axle and has a hump to clear the differentialhousing extension for the pinion housing 80. The links 1411 and 142which support the lower end of springs 135 and 136 and saddles 139 and140 and the ends of shock absorbers 132 are shorter than in FIG. 2because they are pivoted at their lower ends at 113 and 114 at pointsfurther from the center of the vehicle than pivot 127 was in FIG. 2.Extensions 8a and 8b support the ends of cables 115 and 116 whichoperate in a manner similar varying degrees up to the maximum whenpiston rod 112 is fully retracted.

The arms and 126 in FIG. 2 and the arms 141 and 142 cooperate with theother elements to provide a load transmitting mechanism; similarly theleaf springs 7 also function as a side thrust carrying mechanism; thecables- 115 and 116 comprise, With the pulleys 117 and 118 and their endconnections, variable length shackles connected to fixed points on theauxiliary resilient support means, which comprise springs 120 in FIG. 1,springs and 131 and arms 125 and 126 in FIG. 2, and. springs 135 and 136and -arms 14 1 and 142 in FIG. 3.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, manychanges in construction and Widely diifering embodiments andapplications of the invention will suggest themselves without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and thedescription herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be inany sense limiting.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vehicle having a body, supporting rear wheels, a mechanism on whichsaid wheels rotate, yieldable means supporting a portion of said body onsaid wheels, transversely disposed auxiliary yieldable support meanssupporting the same portion of said body on said wheels, shackle meansconnecting said auxiliary yieldable support means to said mechanism andconnected to fixed points on said auxiliary yieldable support means,said shackle means being a flexible member extending over pulley meanswhich varies the effective length thereof, and power means for varyingthe effective length of said shackle means.

2. A vehicle having a body, supporting rear wheels, a mechanism on whichsaid wheels rotate, yieldable means supporting a portion of said body onsaid wheels, auxiliary yieldable support means supporting the sameportion of said body on said wheels, a shackle formed of flexible cableconnected to a fixed point on said auxiliary yieldable support means andconnecting said auxiliary yieldable support means to said mechanism,said shackle being of variable effective length, and power means forvarying the effective length of said shackle.

3. A vehicle having a body, supporting rear wheels, a mechanism on whichsaid wheels rotate, yieldable means supporting a portion of said body onsaid wheels, auxiliary yieldable support means between said mechanismand said body, a shackle formed of flexible cable, connected to a fixedpoint on said auxiliary means and connecting said auxiliary means tosaid mechanism, said shackle being of variable etfective length, andpower means for varying the effective length of said shackle, said powermeans including a hydraulic cylinder and a piston rod connected to saidflexible cable.

4. A vehicle having a body, supporting rear wheels, a mechanism on whichsaid wheels rotate, yieldable means supporting a portion of said body onsaid wheels, auxiliary yieldable support means between said mechanismand said body including a single transverse spring, a lengthwiseextensible shackle connected to a fixed point at each end of said springand connecting said spring to said mechanism, said shackles each beingof variable effective length embodying a flexible member and extendingover pulley means, and power means for varying the effective length ofsaid shackle.

5. A vehicle having a body, rear wheels, primary suspension means,mechanism on which said wheels rotate, auxiliary resilient suspensionmeans, a pulley connected to said auxiliary means at a fixed point ateach side of said vehicle, said pulleys being urged downward by saidauxiliary resilient means relative to said vehicle, a cable passingunder each said pulley and connected to said mechanism on each side ofsaid vehicle, and means for tightening said cable to increase thesupport of said body by said auxiliary resilient means at a setbody-to-mechanism space interval.

6. A vehicle'having a body, rear wheels, primary sus pension means,mechanism on which said wheels rotate, auxiliary resilient suspensionmeans, a pulley connected to said auxiliary means at a fixed point ateach side of said vehicle, said pulley being urged downward by saidauxiliary resilient means relative to said vehicle, a cable passingunder each said pulley and connected to said mechanism on each side ofsaid vehicle, and means for tightening said cable to increase thesupport of said body 70 anrsm space rnterval, said means for tighteningsaid cable by said auxiliary resilient means at a setbody-to-mechincluding a fluid actuated cylinder.

7. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a vehicle frame; a pair ofrear wheels with supporting structure therefor, a pair of main resilientmeans, one between each said rear wheel and said frame; auxiliaryresilient means supported by said frame; connectors each operativelysecured at one end to the supporting structure for one rear wheel; andhydraulic control means, said connectors being operatively connected attheir other ends to said hydraulic control means and in between ends toa fixed point on said auxiliary resilient means, said hydraulic controlmeans functioning for tightening and loosening said connectors forchanging the effectiveness of said auxiliary resilient means, saidconnectors including variable length shackles transmitting verticalsupporting force from said fixed point on said auxiliary resilient meansto said frame.

8. A vehicle having a sprung portion, rear wheels, supporting structurefor said rear wheels, mechanism connecting said structure to said sprungportion, a single resilient means for supporting a portion of saidsprung portion on said supporting structure for said rear wheels througha variable load carrying device, said device including a variable lengthshackle embodying a flexible member extending over pulley meansconnected to a fixed point on said resilient means, and power operatedmeans for changing the effective length of said shackles.

9. In combination, a motor vehicle, a vehicle body, a pair of rearwheels, supporting structure for said rear wheels, resilient meansbetween said wheels and said body, said resilient means normallysupporting one end of said body, auxiliary resilient means attached tosaid supporting structure by flexible means, and means controllable fromthe vehicle interior for tightening or loosening said flexible means torender said auxiliary resilient means more or less effective, saidauxiliary resilient means including a transverse leaf spring withpulleys at its ends, said flexible means including cables passing oversaid pulleys and forming a variable length linkage between fixed pointson the ends of said transverse spring and the structure on which saidrear wheels are mounted.

10. A vehicle having a sprung portion, rear wheels, supporting structurefor said rear wheels, mechanism connecting said structure to said sprungportion, resilient means for supporting a portion of said sprung portionon said supporting structure for said rear wheels through a variableload carrying device, said device including a variable length shackleembodying a flexible member extending over pulley means connected to afixed point on said resilient means, and power operated means forvarying the effective length of said shackle, said variable loadcarrying device including a single spring having ends actingindependently near each rear wheel supporting structure.

1 1. In a motor vehicle suspension system, a body frame, awheel-supporting structure, spring means connected to and extendingbetween said frame and said structure for resiliently supporting theframe on the structure, auxiliary means for supporting a portion of theweight of said frame, said auxiliary means comprising a leaf springsecured intermediate its ends to said body frame and extendingtransversely of said vehicle, and extensi'ble shackle means connected tosaid frame and said supporting means and engaged with the ends of saidleaf spring so that said ends are movable relative to said wheelsupporting structure upon the extension and retraction of said shacklemeans for transferring load from said frame to said leaf spring inamounts dependent on the positions of the ends thereof.

12. In a motor vehicle suspension system, a body frame, awheel-supporting structure, spring means connected to and extendingbetween said frame and said structure for resiliently supporting theframe on the structure, auxiliary means for supporting a portion of theweight of said frame, said auxiliary means comprising a leaf springsecured intermediate its ends to said body frame and extendingtransversely of said vehicle, extensible shackle means connected to saidframe and said supporting means and engaged with the ends of said leafspring so thatsaid ends are movable relative to said wheel supportingstructure upon the extension and retraction of said shackle means fortransferring load from said frame to said leaf spring in amountsdependent on the positions of the ends thereof, and power means on saidframe con nected to said shackle means for positioning said shacklemeans relative to said leaf spring.

13. A vehicle having a body, rear wheels for supporting said body, ahousing supported between said rear wheels, yieldable means supporting aportion of said body on said housing, auxiliary yieldable support meanssupporting the same portion of said body on said housing, and variablelength shackle means embodying a flexible member extending over pulleymeans having one end supported on said body the other end beingconnected to said auxiliary means, said shackle means being of suchconstruction that shortening its length at a given housing to bodyclearance provides increased support by said auxiliary yieldable supportmeans.

14. A vehicle having a body, rear wheels for supporting said body, ahousing supported between said rear wheels, yieldable means supporting aportion of said body on said housing, auxiliary yieldable support meanssupporting the same portion of said body on said housing, variablelength shackle means embodying a flexible member extending over pulleymeans having one end supported on said body, the other end beingconnected to said auxiliary means, and power means on said body forchanging the effective length of said shackle means.

15. A vehicle having a body, rear wheels for supporting said body, ahousing supported between said rear wheels, yieldable means supporting aportion of said body on said housing, auxiliary yieldable support meanssupporting the same portion of said body on said housing, and variablelength shackle means embodying a flexible member extending over pulleymeans having one end supported on said body, the other end beingconnected to said auxiliary means, said shackle means changing in lengthfrom that set at a given housing to body clearance which variesinversely with a change in distance between said housing and bodyclearance.

16. A vehicle having a bod-y, rear wheels for supporting said body, ahousing supported between said rear wheels, yieldable means supporting aportion of said body on said housing, auxiliary yieldable support meanssupporting the same portion of said body on said housing, and variablelength shackle means embodying a flexible member extending over pulleymeans having one end supported on said body, the other end beingconnected to said auxiliary means, said shackle means varying in lengthduring a change in the amount of support supplied by the auxiliaryspring at a given housing to body clearance.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,377,913 Neff May 10, 1921 1,429,411 Davidson Sept. 1-9, 1922 1,602,337Chandler Oct. 5, 1926 2,304,780 Fries Dec. 15, 1942 2,705,139 NallingerMar. 29, 1955

